MORGAN CREEK VINEYARDS - A FAMILY AFFAIRText and Photography by Pamela A. Campbell
|
||
|
Cambria, Minn. Once upon a time, more than a hundred years ago, August Schell became a pioneer winemaker in Minnesota high above the Cottonwood River. If this were a fairytale, Georg Marti would say it has come true.
The founder of August Schell Brewing Company was the great, great grandfather of Georg, who with his wife, Paula, and sons, have followed the family tradition and opened the successful Morgan Creek Vineyards south of New Ulm. |
|
|
|
The Marti winery and vineyards are laid out in an almost storybook fashion. The winery overlooks a valley, and the surrounding grounds spread out into a meadow that leads to Morgan Creek.
The Martis vineyard beginnings are as intriguing as winemaking. The year was 1992, the circumstances totally unrelated to seeking land for growing grapes, but on a spur of the moment decision, a 10-acre livestock farmland was purchased. The tradition continues.... The following year the couple planted 500 vines in eight varieties - Marechal Foch, Riesling, Aris, Gewurtztraminer, Pinot Gris, Frontenac and St. Pepin, and by 1994 the vines numbered 1,000.
In the early years they harvested about four tons of grapes, but they must now source grapes from outside growers. "The industry is really booming," said Georg Marti. "We signed up four people to grow grapes for us." Georg explained it takes three years to start producing grapes and five years for full crops. The winery is kept cool by its hillside location and visitors wishing to taste or buy wines can actually observe what's going on in the production room and see the cellar too. Morgan Creek wines..... Morgan Creek Vineyards are proud to be Minnesota's first underground winery with an average year-round temperature of 51 degrees.
Marechal Foch is a delightfully light red with delicate strawberry and a hint of oak. It goes well with red meat, soup, bread and rich cheese. Redtail Ridge is medium bodied red. It's a blend of French hybrid grapes - Foch, DeChaunac and Chambourcin. Frontenac is uniquely Minnesotan. A hardy grape with a cherry nose and a light Beaujolais style body, it has beautiful color. Bacchanal is a red made from Minnesota grown blend of St. Croix and Marechal Foch grapes. The rich, soft taste originates with delicate cherry and blackberry aromas and a light toasted French oak. Saint Wenceslas is the winery's popular Christmas wine and is best described as a blend of Cherry and Foch, with rich, toasted oak and holiday sweetness. The Morgan Creek Myst is a white sweet wine filled with floral aromas and is recommended as an aperitif. Black Ice is a September release - a luscious Muscat dessert wine to die for according to the folks at Morgan Creek Vineyards. The Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Saint Pepin and Saint John Reserve are all popular wines sold at the winery. Special events..... From the first weekend of May through December there are seasonal events such as the Bacchus Festival, Heritagefest, Octoberfest and Christmas Candlelight Winetasting. There are also several gourmet cooking classes scheduled throughout the year.
| ||
The day we visited brilliant sunshine filtered through the cotton white puffs of clouds as Georg happily walked us across the creek and up the hill to the vineyards. There, in vivid contrast against the green leaves, were perfect bunches of purple grapes.
The entire family, parents and four children, cultivate upkeep and harvest the grapes. Each year the less hardy French and German vines must be carefully buried to prevent their demise from the cold, harsh temperatures.
The wine list showed 11 varieties were available during our visit. Here is a brief summary of the wines we tasted.